Health and safety in microbiological and virological practice

Details

Title

Health and safety in microbiological and virological practice

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS212

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will with respect to i) health and safety issues, both locally and nationally, in order to practise safely in a laboratory, clinical or other settings and advise on safe practice; ii) risk assessment for dealing with category 3 and 4 pathogens and the requirements for handling such pathogens and iii) the categorisation of organisms as set out in the Approved List of Biological Agents (ACDP 2004) be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform risk assessments and develop, refine and evaluate health and safety precautions relating to patient management and
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002)
• Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations (2001)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999)
• Transport of Infectious Substances (2011) guidance
• The management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories (2001) guidance (HSE)
• Biological agents: Managing the risks in laboratories and healthcare premises (HSE)
• Safe disposal of clinical waste (1999) guidance.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to perform an infection-prevention and control- oriented risk assessment when required for all procedures undertaken in the laboratory, in areas related to laboratory practice, and in the health care setting, for all categories of worker, including the pregnant and immunocompromised the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• use of risk assessment tools including risk matrices

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to apply knowledge of health and safety in microbiological and virological practice to perform the clinical skills necessary under supervision:

• to assess appropriately the need for health and safety precautions in relation to patient management.